The Institute for Representative Government (IRG) was established in 1988 by a group of former Members of Congress as an independent, bipartisan, non-profit organization to provide high level, professional exchange programs for parliamentarians from developing or newly-established democracies.

With this vision, legislators from emerging democracies could come to the United States, learn how government operates on the national and state levels, and interact with current and former lawmakers. The Institute for Representative Government is funded via a competitive proprosal process by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Programming is organized in partnership with the International Republican Institute and National Democratic Institute.